Furadan or the Carbofuran is one amongst the toxic carbamate pesticides, which is marketed with the trade name as Furadan, by FMC Corporation and Curater. One of its uses is to control the insects in a wide variety of field crops, including potatoes, corn and soybeans.
It is a complete insecticide, meaning the plant will absorb it through the roots, and from here the plant distributes it all through its organs like the vessels, stems and leaves, where insecticidal concentrations are attained. Carbofuran also has contact activity against pests.
Carbofuran has one of the highest severe toxicities to humans of any insecticide widely used on field crops. A quarter teaspoon may be deadly. Most carbofuran is applied by commercial applicators using closed systems with engineered controls so there is no exposure to it in preparation. Since its toxic effects are due to its activity as a cholinesterase inhibitor it is considered a neurotoxic pesticide.
Associated Press reports that the Philadelphia-based manufacturer of a pesticide blamed by conservationists for the poisoning deaths of lions in Kenya says it's taking "aggressive action" to prevent misuse of the product, halting sales to the country and trying to buy back supplies.
The carbofuran pesticide is marketed by the FMC Corp. as Furadan. It's used to control insects on crops such as corn, rice and sorghum. Its granular form was banned in the mid-1990s after it killed 2 million birds.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency moved last summer to stop its use on food crops.
Conservationists say East African herdsmen trying to protect their animals have been using the pesticide to poison lions, hyenas and other predators.
FMC Vice President Milton Steele says the company has no proof its product was involved. But he says it wants to work with conservationists to resolve the problem.
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